FRANKLIN, Tenn. — There is a possibility that the girls’ wrestling invitational tournament will be deleted from the current lineup and given its own date, maybe in mid-January.
There were entrants representing 24 schools in this year’s tournament, including teams from Soddy-Daisy, Signal Mountain, East Ridge, Red Bank, McMinn County and Rhea County.
“The sport for girls has tripled in three years,” said Soddy-Daisy coach Steve Henry, whose girls’ team won the first duals tournament two years ago. “I’m pushing for (the change) because it would give them their own moment in the spotlight. They’re sort of dwarfed here.”
The TSSAA doesn’t officially girls’ wrestling, and the thought is that the girls’ tournament needs to move to a high school gym and start its growth just as boys’ wrestling did decades ago.
Red Bank’s first
Destiny Prince, wrestling in the girls’ 112-pound consolations, got the first win and the first pin for the Red Bank girls’ program. Prince, a freshman, pinned Clarksville Northeast’s Crystal Jones in the second period.
Mullin fighting flu
Notre Dame 112-pounder Grayson Mullin was one of the title favorites, but the sophomore found it way too hard to battle a wrestling opponent and the flu and was upset in his first match.
“He is so disappointed, and we are disappointed for him,” Irish coach John Mullin said. “He has been sick since Thursday afternoon with some kind of stomach flu.”
Mullin was a returning medalist, having placed fourth at 103 pounds last year.
Mathieson defaults
Hixson 171-pounder Justin Mathieson, a vital cog in the Wildcats’ drive to their second straight state duals championship two weeks ago, was pulled for the state tournament after suffering a severe ankle injury.
“He was extended at the edge of the mat, and the guy he was wrestling rolled over his ankle. It may be broken,” Hixson coach Garrick Hall said.